Cultivating Gratitude and Sharing Joy

celebrate

Texas has some cool architecture. Many of these beautiful courthouses were built by the German and Czech immigrants that came for the Land grants given by the Republic of Texas to attract new citizenry for the newly formed Country between 1836-1856.

This is the courthouse in Glen Rose, Texas. There is a rumor that John Wilkes Booth escaped from Washington, DC after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. He was secreted to Texas by confederate sympathizers and became John St. Helen and lived in Glen Rose right behind this courthouse, and in near by Granbury, TX. On his death bed John St. Helen confessed to being Booth, and gave his confessor directions to the hiding place of the weapon he used to kill Lincoln.

The odd connection I have with John Wilkes Booth is through my ex-husband whose grandmother was one of Booth’s nieces. So technically, my oldest son is loosely related to the Assassin through his great grandmother.

This is the Courthouse in the happening burg of Granbury, TX. Granbury was where the widow of Davey Crockett ended up. The Republic of Texas awarded Elizabeth Patton Crockett and her son Robert Crockett a substantial land grant for Crockett’s participation in the battle at the Alamo. It’s one of the towns still left with Confederate statues for the founder of Granbury a Confederate Brigadier General Hiram Granbury.

This is a part of Texas that is so beautiful. Rolling hills, cedar and oak, vineyards, cattle, and of course these little towns that hold history and charm that is uniquely Texas.

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I’ve always appreciated my husband’s sincerity, generosity, and kindness. He knows that it has always been the little things that have made the biggest difference over the years. I am a very blessed woman to have a man like him.

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Last year my boss and I came to Florida to visit clients, and we had to take a stroll on the beach.

This was South Florida near Boynton Beach.

This month, I’m getting to hang out in January in Florida closer to the Georgia line.

I like the beach, the sound of the waves, and the overall feel of the water. I’m just not a big “sand” person.

This place is pretty Cool. Amelia Island has been under 8 different flags since the 1600’s. There was a British fort here during the Revolutionary War. U.S. Grant stayed in one of the hotels while campaigning for President. There is more Pre-Civil War architecture here than any other spot in the southern United States. It’s completely charming.

We had a fancy dinner party for clients, and having the ocean to ourselves was pretty cool.

Who can’t relate to a Barn style restaurant with a “look out for the locomotive” sign? It was their soft opening, so no TV’s, no booze to buy, but plenty of free bacon that gets crisped up with a blow torch table side. It was great. The Shrimp and Grits was amazing, the meatloaf got rave reviews, but the bourbon bread pudding was the overall favorite.

My husband celebrated his big 60 this week, so we feasted again with Stone Crab, and Cake.

It was my husband’s first foray into Baked Alaska. He was a huge fan. I had forgotten about Baked Alaska. What a 70’s throw back. A great treat.

Then we feasted again with family with the traditional Roast Beast. (Notice I tried to focus on seafood before we ventured into Big Beef.)

This one was a 5 rib Prime Rib that I was thrilled turned out beautiful. I get a little nervous cooking something this big. That’s a lot of meat to mess up. No PRESSURE! It was accompanied by Mushrooms braised in Red wine and butter, Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts in a bacon-blue cheese sauce, Cabbage and Kale salad with apples and a lemon Vinaigrette, and for dessert a fabulous carrot cake. There were 9 very rowdy folks laughing at my house for a good 6 hours. I slept well after everyone said good night and all the dishes were done. There were 0 left overs. It was like army ants invaded and carried away every speck of the Christmas offering. It made me really happy. It was like a standing ovation culinary style.

Today, it’s quite in the aftermath of the festivities. I get to reflect on the wonderful family and friends that have graced me this week, and I’m just overwhelmed with how blessed I am. But, if anyone puts food in front of me, I might just smack them. I fully understand why people fast and go without alcohol in January. I’ve been blessed beyond measure. It’s time for someone else to get blessed.

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Being on the Gulf Coast, we don’t get the whole 4 season thing the rest of the country gets. We have two, Hot and a little warm and rainy. Houston is green 10 months out of the year. Shoot, we were still mowing last Monday. How can you get into the Christmas season with the smell of fresh mown grass?

Every now and again we get some winter precipitation. On Friday I woke up at 3 am, and was shocked to see snow! It was a little chilly earlier in the day, mid 40’s and a little cloudy, but no one thought it would really snow!

It was quiet, and still. It was fluffy and white. It made me so happy.

It didn’t last, but we had some fun.

After the snow, I was ready to buckle down and get into some Christmas decorating and baking. I even went to a cookie exchange.
We’ve had an interesting year here in Houston.